In a case that could revolve around the role of religion in mental health care, a Springfield psychologist is accused of violating professional standards by counseling a patient on demon possession and inviting her to a prayer group.
Psychologist Thomas DeVol markets himself as a Christian psychologist and, as part of his anti-divorce counseling, says he has invoked Jesus' name on dozens of occasions while commanding evil spirits to exit people.
The former Assemblies of God missionary considers it an appropriate method for healing people, noting the Bible contains numerous cases where Jesus dealt with demon possession.
But Attorney General Jay Nixon's office, in an administrative hearing beginning Monday, contends DeVol's demon discussions run contrary to current scientific and professional standards. If a hearing judge finds it a violation, the State Committee of Psychologists could revoke DeVol's license or impose any of several lesser penalties.
DeVol, 59, who practices psychology in Springfield, also is accused of various other violations in a 54-page complaint, including overbilling, disclosing confidential patient information and having social relationships with clients.
Although any of those could form the basis for an administrative judge to find DeVol in violation of professional standards, DeVol contends none of the other ethical allegations would have been raised were it not for his openly Christian approach to counseling.
"This country is just not friendly to Christianity," he said. "I think we're very marginalized, especially in the area of psychology."
Among other things, the state alleges that DeVol violated professional care standards by making repeated references to a female client's Catholic beliefs and telling her that it is a wife's duty to be submissive to her husband -- an instruction drawn from the book of Ephesians.
And DeVol is accused of wrongfully having a "dual relationship" -- both personal and professional -- by inviting the woman to a prayer group attended by himself and his family.
The attorney general's office says Christianity is not on trial, but rather DeVol's business practices and treatment methods. "The thrust is that Dr. DeVol does not abide by accepted practices in the psychology field," said Nixon spokeswoman Beth Hammock.
DeVol says he became accustomed to incorporating religion into his psychology practice while working as a medical missionary in the Philippines in 1983-1984 and again from 1988 to 1993.
While back in Missouri in 1985, he asked the State Committee of Psychologists whether he could advertise himself as a Christian psychologist who accepts the Bible as the moral standard of behavior.
In a June 1985 letter, the committee said he could. And DeVol points to that authorization. But the attorney general's office says that letter doesn't imply permission to discuss demon possession.
"There are other businesses that advertise themselves as Christian businesses, and that's an accepted business practice in Missouri. It's a way to describe your values and ethics," Hammock said. "But a psychologist licensed by the state of Missouri must follow accepted professional practices, and telling patients that there are demons that are part of their mental health problem is not an accepted practice."
In the particular counseling case cited by the attorney general, DeVol is accused of trying to convince a client that demon possession exists and that there were demons in her family.
DeVol says he did not actually cast out a demon. He says the client brought up the topic while complaining that her husband had a demon, and DeVol actually convinced her that he did not.
But DeVol says he has confronted evil spirits in 3 percent to 4 percent of his 5,000 clients over the past two decades.
American Psychological Association spokeswoman Pam Willenz refused to comment on whether demon possession is viewed as a legitimate diagnosis among some psychologists, citing the pending case in Missouri.
DeVol's case initially was filed in January 2002 and was amended nine months later to include the alleged demon discussion and more violations. The case still could take a while to resolve.
After this week's administrative hearing, the judge could accept more written arguments before issuing a conclusion. Then if DeVol is found to have committed violations, more time could pass before the state panel. holds a disciplinary hearing.